Start Driving in TaifTaif, Saudi Arabia’s cool highland city in the Sarawat Mountains, sits perched above the Red Sea coast as a historic summer retreat for the royal family and a religious‑scholar centered hub of roughly 1 million residents whose green valleys, orchards, and mist‑shrouded hills glow under 28°C mild summers and 10°C cool winters, shaped by Ottoman‑era garrison life, pilgrimage‑route roles, and modern tourism‑driven growth. Must sees include the bustling old quarter markets selling roses and honey, the Al‑Hada mountain road with sweeping views, the nearby Al‑Shafa area for cooler‑weather escapes, the historic forts and palaces, and the surrounding orchards and rose farms that give the region its famous floral scent. Culture blends conservative Hijazi‑style traditions with a strong scholarly and religious atmosphere, visible in the frequent religious lectures, the emphasis on quiet family‑oriented life, the love of rose‑scented sweets, and the city’s role as a more relaxed, elevated alternative to Jeddah or Riyadh. Cuisine delights with rich lamb‑and‑rice dishes, grilled meats, honey‑drizzled breads, rose‑flavored desserts, and fresh fruits, often enjoyed in family‑style homes and modest roadside taqwa‑style eateries.
